The Vegan Variant: Maharaja (east and west side)

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The Vegan Variant: Maharaja (east and west side) Submitted by Nicole on Wed, 2006-08-09 12:00. Food | Restaurants | Vegan Variant Authentic Indian food is found on the East and West side of Madison at the two Maharaja locations. The best time to go is between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. for the lunch buffet. It is all-you-can-eat vegan splendor (they do have meat dishes though as well). During the week, the lunch buffet is $7.95, while over the weekend it is $8.95. It seems

to be the least crowded Monday through Wednesday. On average, the East side location also always seems to be less crowded than the West. The West location is larger and usually has a bigger variety of vegan choices. You can catch a bus to the West-side Maharaja location. It's also rideable via bike if you take the southwest trail and ride up Odana. We purposely skipped any sort of breakfast and made sure not to eat too much the night before, because you know, gotta get your money's worth! A lot of the time though, most of the dishes are extremely filling, consisting mostly of potatoes, beans, and rice. It is so satisfying that it's pretty impossible to make it to the third plate! After you get seated, you can just go ahead right away and help yourself to the buffet. It is more of a fine-dining experience at the Maharaja, but has a tinge of casualness to it. The table tops are glass, with white linen table clothes. There is really pretty

Indian art on the walls, and authentic Indian music playing. They always are diligent about keeping your water filled, and four pieces of Naan bread are served on the table. Naan is flatbread made with Ghee, so it's not vegan. Ghee is clarified butter. The bread is supposed to be used to sop up leftover sauce on your plate. They have so many kinds of bread there though (as listed on the menu), and a number of which are vegan, it might be possible to ask for vegan bread instead of Naan if they have it available during lunch. There is salad at the buffet (but yeah, I know, boring... salad is always vegan and etc. etc., but I'm just sayin' so you know and to cover all my bases). There is usually a selection of two fried appetizers, such as Aloo Tikki or Vegetable Pakoras. Both are deep fried vegetables, the former in Gram Flour. They really fry those things--they are golden brown and not too greasy. For the entrees, there are usually about four vegan

options (and about five vegetarian). Under the name of the dish a short description of ingredients will usually be listed, so you don't have to skip things you might want, or try to do some detective work and investigate what is in your food as you're eating it (always a bad idea). There are usually three different kinds of rice, all three usually vegan, which I did not count in my final total of possible vegan options... so, five plus three is eight! Vegetable Biryani Rice is rice cooked with spices, vegetables, and dried fruits. Basmati rice is just a species of rice, and plain. Then, sometimes there is also a lemon rice dish as well. They have rice crepes filled with potatoes, peas, and onions. They are VERY good! Soft and starchy with a hint of carmelized onions and a curry flavoring to the potatoes. Definitely not for the carb-afraid. They've had a potato dish in a sauce with carmelized onions and carrots, a chickpea dish with

tomatoes and spices, battered and fried cauliflower with other vegetables in a sauce (SO GOOD!), green beans with various vegetables, cabbage and onion dishes in a curry sauce, a mixed vegetable curry, a soft, bready tasting wheat grain dish with vegetables........ I guess the point here is that no matter when you go, there will ALWAYS be, at the very very least, probably three vegan options at the buffet, but definitely more, and they will always be extremely tasty. The food is never greasy, over or under seasoned, and also never under or over cooked. The foods blend well together on the palate, and although spicy, it is never painful. The buffet is worth every penny--make sure to try this place out if you haven't already. 6713 Odana RoadMadison, WI 53719Phone: (608) 833-1824 and 1707 Thiereer Road, East Point PlazaMadison, WI 53704Phone: (608) 246-8525Peter H

 

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